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South Asia

Feb 2, 2005

India to promote itself as health care destination

LONDON - After its success in information technology outsourcing and biotechnology fields, India plans to promote itself as a health care destination for people from across the globe, Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said Monday.

"We are taking steps to promote India as a health care destination to attract persons from different parts of the world to utilize the cost-effective health care expertise and infrastructure available in the country," Ramadoss said while delivering a keynote address here on "Health Consumers: What is the size of the market; who buys and who pays?"

Elaborating on the vast healthcare facilities available in India, the minister, who is here to attend a two-day international conference on the pharmaceutical industry said "the progress of healthcare system is dependent on availability of cost effective medicine. Our pharmaceutical industry has made significant contribution both at the national as well as international level."

He said India enjoys a competitive advantage at the international level by virtue of its vast scientific manpower.

"Given its proven strengths in process re-engineering skills besides low cost R&D [research and development] and manufacturing, India offers strategic R&D opportunities and can emerge as a potential location for pharmaceutical R&D.

"Today the strategic focus of the major Indian pharmaceutical companies is to shift from 'business driven research' to 'research driven business' and have a firm foothold in international markets, with an emphasis on advanced markets."

(Asia Pulse/PTI)

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